What Distracts People at Work – What People Find Distracting at Work

Published on: March 14, 2019 / Update from: March 14, 2019 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Workplace distractions affect not only where you work, but also who you work with. According to a new survey from Udemy and Toluna , 80 percent of respondents report that they are distracted by chatty employees, the number one distraction in the workplace. Office noise is the second most frequently cited workplace disruption, with seven out of ten respondents citing noise as a major factor in their daily work routine. Lower on the list, but still a problem, was social media. Half of respondents believe that personal use of social media is disruptive to them at work.

The report found that reducing distractions in the workplace increases employee productivity, motivation, confidence and overall well-being. As open office plans have become fashionable in modern workplaces, new studies have questioned their effectiveness in fostering a collaborative environment, with many complaining about their distraction and misuse.

The top workplace distractions involve not just where you work, but who you work with. According to a new poll by Udemy and Toluna , 80 percent of people report being distracted by chatty coworkers, the number one office place distraction. Office noise is the second most cited workplace disturbance, with seven out of ten citing noise as a top bother in their day-to-day workflow. Lower on the list, but still a problem, was social media. Half of the people surveyed thought that personal social media use was a disturbance to them at work.

The report found that reducing workplace distractions increased workers productivity, motivation, confidence, and overall happiness. As open office plans have come into vogue in the modern workplace, new studies have brought into question how effective they are at fostering a collaborative environment as many complain of their distractions and misuse.

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